Top Southeast Brazil Eco Tours

Explore the world's largest urban rainforest, Tijuca National Park, during this 3-hour tour in Rio de Janeiro. With a nature guide, discover the swaths of verdant foliage and abundance of local wildlife within the confines of this vibrant city. A bio-diverse hot spot, the fragile ecosystem is home to several waterfalls and many endangered species. Enjoy views of Pedra da Gávea and the Christ the Redeemer statue and stop at the Emperor's Table and the Chinese View. Round-trip transportation from Rio hotels is included.

Take a break from the city streets without venturing too far on this half-day Jeep tour through Tijuca Rainforest. Explore the lush jungle with a small group in an open-air vehicle that provides unobstructed views so you can observe the wildlife. Take a short hike to a beautiful viewpoint that offers panoramic views of the city and visit the park’s tallest waterfall for a refreshing dip.

Get more out of your visit to the famous Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden when you go with a guide. Walk through the highlights of this UNESCO-listed biosphere reserve while learning about learning about its history and mission, plus see plants and animals from around the world like monkeys, toucans, and giant Amazonian water lilies. Round-trip transportation from Rio hotels is included.

Explore Brazil's diverse plant life on this tour of the Tijuca Rainforest and the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden. Visit the city's botanical garden to view a variety of exotic and native plants. Ride in a jeep through the Tijuca Rainforest, stopping for a leisurely hike with picturesque views and chances to see local wildlife. Round-trip transportation from Rio de Janeiro hotels is included.

The Tijuca National Forest is one of the largest urban rainforests in the world, set on mountain slopes just west of Rio de Janeiro. With this tour, discover two of the city’s nature sites, starting with a guided walk through the Rio Botanical Gardens, including the Turtle Lake and Sensory Garden. Then, hike through Tijuca, learn more about the native plants and wildlife, and admire Taunay Waterfall.

As one of Rio de Janeiro’s most iconic attractions, Christ the Redeemer attracts lengthy lines. Save time and prevent hassle by prebooking skip-the-line tickets, which allow you to board the next available train to the summit of Corcovado, where the statue is located. Your return ticket is valid on any train, so spend as much time as you like at the top, enjoying panoramic vistas of Rio and capturing photographs of the landmark.

Start your day at the charming Portinha 183, a cozy café where you can enjoy a delicious breakfast and prepare for a day full of discoveries. From there, head to the Ibirapuera Park, one of the largest and most beloved parks in the city. In addition to its vast green areas and lakes, the park is home to important cultural spaces, such as the buildings designed by Oscar Niemeyer, the Museu Afro Brasileiro (which celebrates Afro-Brazilian history and culture), the MAM (Museum of Modern Art), the Bienal de Arte, and the MAC (Museum of Contemporary Art). Each of these places offers a unique experience, connecting you to art, architecture, and history.

We begin in the charming neighbourhood of Cosme Velho, walking up a cobblestone road toward the forest. Entering Tijuca Forest National Park at the historic Carioca River reservoir—built during imperial times when the river supplied most of Rio’s water—we reach the Carioca River Trail. Your adventure starts with a climb up a stone staircase, keeping an eye out for wildlife. With luck, we may spot monkeys, sloths, quatis, toucans, and a variety of birds. Along the way, we pause at a scenic lookout before arriving at the Emperor’s Bathtub—a pool once used by Dom Pedro II to cool off during forest visits. Next, we stop at the Paineiras Visitors Centre, a former hotel with information about the park. Here, you can enjoy coffee and snacks before continuing the final 1 km walk to the statue. At the top you’ll marvel at the iconic statue and breathtaking views of Rio. We then return to Cosme Velho on the Christ the Redeemer Train, ending the journey with unforgettable memories.

Pedra do Telégrafo is one of Rio de Janeiro's most-photographed natural attractions and offers great views of the city. But, located on the city's west side, it can be tricky to get there. This small-group tour takes care of your transportation then leads you on an easy hike up to the rock where you can take photos and enjoy the views.

Relax on the pristine, uncrowded beaches of Ilha Grande and Angra dos Reis during this 12-hour excursion from Rio de Janeiro. Take a break from the urban pace with a sightseeing cruise through the islands, passing Ponta da Piedade, Lagoa Azul and Ilha de Cataguases. Stop to swim and snorkel in the azure waters or dig your toes into the soft sand. Enjoy lunch aboard the boat; drinks are available for purchase. Round-trip transportation from Rio hotels is included.

And an opportunity to learn to samba with a carnival queen of Rio de Janeiro. Besides having a lot of fun, you will learn to sambar ....

Get an in-depth local experience with this walking tour of one of Rio's "favelas," Rocinha. Follow your resident guide through the slum to get an insider's perspective on daily life and learn about the challenges these communities face. Upgrade your experience to a 2-day tour that includes a visit to Tijuca Forest.

Explore Serra da Bocaina National Park (Bocaino Mountains National Park) on this 6-hour adventure from Paraty. Climb into a Jeep to barrel down rugged roads in search of pristine waterfalls like Tarzan Falls and Toboga Falls. Stop by a cachaça distillery to taste Brazil's national liquor during your trip down the Caminho do Ouro (Gold Trail).

This tour is special because it provides an authentic immersion in the Atlantic Forest, just minutes away from one of the world's largest metropolises. It's a unique opportunity to experience nature in its purest form, with trails among century-old trees, the possibility of seeing wild animals and birds, visiting a waterfall, and enjoying an unforgettable panoramic view of the city of São Paulo. Furthermore, the tour is private and fully personalized, adapted to the traveler's pace and interests—whether you are a lover of trails, photography, wildlife and flora observation, or someone simply seeking peace and contact with nature. Accompanied by an experienced bilingual tour guide, you will feel safe and well looked after throughout the entire experience. This combination of accessibility, biodiversity, and freedom of choice makes this tour a unique and memorable experience.

Ride through Tijuca National Park's rainforest in an open-top Jeep during this half-day trip from Rio. During guided eco-tour, hike through the forest to spot sloths, butterflies, monkeys, and birds. Enjoy panoramic views from Vista Chinesa (Chinese View) and marvel at the fact that this section of the Mata Atlântica (Atlantic Forest) is just 10 minutes outside the city limits. Round-trip transportation from Rio hotels is included.

Get an overview of Rio's most important sights during this comprehensive day tour. With your guide, tick off Christ the Redeemer statue, the Selarón Steps, Maracanã Stadium, and the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian. If you upgrade to the premium option, you can even take the cable car to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain, plus stop for lunch in one of the city's best steakhouses. Round-trip, air-conditioned transportation from Rio hotels is included.

Soar above the city of Rio de Janeiro aboard a hang glider during this thrilling adventure. Accompanied by a fully certified instructor, launch from the Tijuca National Park and glide over the lush, verdant Atlantic Forest. Take in views of some of Rio's most famous landmarks, such as Sugar Loaf Mountain, the Rocinha Favela, and the Christ the Redeemer Statue atop Corcovado Mountain. Touch down for a gentle landing on the white sands of Sao Conrado Beach.

Immerse yourself in the history and culture of the Guarani indigenous community on a private half-day tour from Sao Paulo. Relax, as air-conditioned transportation takes you from your accommodation to the Tekoa Itakupe Indigenous Reserve. Here, you'll observe daily life, visit the Guarani temple, try Xondaro Fighting Dance, and interact with local leaders. Complete the experience with a visit to Jaragua Peak Park, where you'll enjoy a UNESCO-listed panoramic view of Sao Paulo

Walk through the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest with a naturalist guide during this 4-hour tour from São Paulo. On foot, follow your guide through the dense tropical forest in search of native animals. Listen to informative commentary about the endemic plants and flowers as you weave through the dense thickets of tropical vegetation. Stop at a nearby waterfall to cool off under its impressive cascade and admire the machinery of a defunct water wheel house. Round-trip transportation from São Paulo hotels or the airport is included.

Visit a tropical rainforest that borders a huge metropolitan city—an extremely rare thing in the world. The Tijuca Forest is an area filled with indigenous wildlife, flowers and plants, and on this tour, spot toucans, monkeys and raccoons among many other inhabitants of the forest. Then, travel to the Tijuca Botanical Garden to learn more about the flowers of Brazil and enjoy displays of plants.

Explore Rio and visit Sugar Loaf Mountain during this 4-hour morning tour. Visit some of the city's most important landmarks, including the Metropolitan Cathedral and Copacabana Beach. Then, board a glassed-in cable car bound for Sugar Loaf's peak, stopping once at a scenic viewpoint. Upon reaching the top of Sugar Loaf at 1,299 feet (396 meters) above sea level, admire the views of Niteroi, Copacabana, and Santa Cruz Fortress. Round-trip transportation from selected Rio hotels is included.

Head to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain by cable car for sweeping views of Rio de Janeiro. Your skip-the-line ticket gives you priority access to both cable cars, saving you time waiting at this popular attraction, and is valid for any departure time on the day you select. Admire the beautiful views of the city, the mountains, and the coastline from the lookout.

Sloths, monkeys, butterflies, and birds are just some of the wildlife your guide can point out on this half-day eco-tour of Tijuca National Park. Ride an open-top Jeep into the rainforest and hike around this section of the Mata Atlântica (Atlantic Forest) with a guide to lead the way. Round-trip transport from Rio hotels is included to the Tijuca Forest.